Ottumwa City Council Meeting Disrupted by Satanic Invocation

During a Tuesday meeting, former council member Matt Dalbey opened the Ottumwa City Council session with a satanic prayer, invoking the “dark father” and ending with a “Hail Satan” declaration. The invocation sparked immediate backlash: New Life Center Pastor Rick Bick demanded a reversal, citing a curse on the city, while Mayor Benjamin Foote overruled the council’s attempt to proceed and called for a moment of silence, stating the prayer did not reflect the community’s values. Council member Cara Galloway expressed concerns that allowing invocations could lead to further conflicts and financial liability. Dalbey, a member of The Satanic Temple of Iowa, said the prayer is a common temple practice but not a belief in a satanic deity. Council member Bill Hoffman defended Dalbey’s First Amendment right while noting the city’s neutral invocation policy, adopted in January, is intended to respect diverse faiths without endorsing any. The incident has reignited debate over the appropriateness of religious invocations in public meetings.